2003 Toyota AVALON problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
293 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
82,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 138 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 181 of 293 complaints (61.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 48 | 16.4% |
| Steering behavior | 24 | 8.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 4.4% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 2.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 2.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 181 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 45 |
| Electrical System | 18 |
| Steering | 18 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 8 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Seat Belts | 6 |
| Suspension | 6 |
Air Bags: 181; Vehicle Speed Control: 45; Electrical System: 18; Steering: 18; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 8; Engine: 7; Seat Belts: 6; Suspension: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 21 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 22 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 34 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 31 |
| 150,000 and above | 16 |
Under 25,000: 21; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 22; 75,000 to 99,999: 34; 100,000 to 149,999: 31; 150,000 and above: 16
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (34). 155 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 12 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 30 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 47 |
| 2015 | 88 |
| 2016 | 42 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2002: 2; 2003: 12; 2004: 8; 2005: 4; 2006: 3; 2007: 3; 2008: 2; 2009: 4; 2010: 30; 2011: 10; 2012: 8; 2013: 11; 2014: 47; 2015: 88; 2016: 42; 2017: 5; 2018: 5; 2019: 3; 2021: 3; 2023: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 48 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 24 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 13 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001386 · 2002-12-23 (December 23, 2002)
WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS IN THE DRIVE POSITION, IT CAN'T BE SEEN FROM 40MPH AND UP. IN ORDER TO SET THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE DRIVER WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE ATTENTION OFF OF THE ROAD BECAUSE THEY'RE UNABLE TO VIEW THE SPEEDOMETER DUE TO THE STEERING WHEEL OR THE DASHBOARD DESIGN. TS THE BRAKES NEEDED EXCESSIVE EFFORT IN ORDER TO STOP. UPON THE SECOND APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS DISENGAGED. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001386 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030665 · 2003-08-03 (August 3, 2003)
THIS PERTAINS TO A NEW 2003 TOYOTA AVALON LXS BRAKING SYSTEM. AT RANDOM TIMES THE BRAKES APPEAR TO BE AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED. THEY BECOME EXTREMELY HOT AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SHIMMY AND SEVEREL VIBRATE. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO MACHINED THE FRONT ROTORS AND SANDED THE PAD, THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED IN JUNE 03. THE DEALER ROTATED THE TIRES. THE THIRD INCIDENT OCCURRED THE END OF JUNE 03. A REGIONAL SERVICE TECH WAS CALLED BY THE DEALER AND WHILE HE WAS IN THE VEHICLE THE CONDITION OCCURRED AGAIN. THEY REPLACE…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030665 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10272760 · 2009-06-03 (June 3, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING UNIVERSAL JOINT IN THE STEERING SHAFT, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO TURN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF OVER $1,000. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC VERIFIED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF OVER $500. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 103,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 103,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10272760 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10627581 · 2014-08-22 (August 22, 2014)
I RECEIVED AN INTERIM NOTICE ON MAY 17, 2014 THAT THE ELECTRONIC RESTRAINT SYSTEM'S ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE MAY SHORT CIRCUIT WHEN EXPOSED TO CERTAIN ELECTRICAL NOISE FROM VARIOUS VEHICLE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. I HAVE CALLED TOYOTA ON THERE HOT LINE [phone removed] TO GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED IN MY CAR. EACH TIME I CALL, THE TOYOTA REP. SAYS THAT TOYOTA "IS WORKING ON IT BUT THEY HAVE NO PARTS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM". IT HAS NOW THE END OF AUGUST, 4 MONTHS LATER AND NO SOLUTION. AM I TO BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE REALLY WORKING ON THIS PROBLEM.…
Owner-reported narrative. 166,427 miles reported. Look up ODI 10627581 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10637534 · 2014-09-19 (September 19, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V147000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED AN AIR BAG RECALL. HOWEVER, SHE WAS INFORMED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE . UPDATED 01/21/15. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10637534 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10294857 · 2009-12-08 (December 8, 2009)
2003 TOYOTA AVALON XLS. STALLED WHILE DRIVING. HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR IN STREET AND WALK HOME. WOULD NOT RESTART FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES. ALSO WOULD START, THEN STALL AND NOT RESTART FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES ON OTHER OCCASIONS INTERMITTENTLY. THIS WAS VERY CONCERNING BECAUSE THE ENGINE WOULD JUST TURN OFF DURING DRIVING AND NOT RESTART. TOOK TO B&D AUTO REPAIR, WHO COULD NOT REPLICATE PROBLEM AND THEN CALLED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN CARLSBAD WHO TOLD THEM WAS PROBABLY THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE AS THEY HAD BEEN FINDING THIS AN ISSUE WITH AVALONS. SO B…
Owner-reported narrative. 63,736 miles reported. Look up ODI 10294857 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10609730 · 2014-07-10 (July 10, 2014)
ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) ISSUE: PROBLEM W/ INTERMITTENT WARNING LIGHTS FOR AIR BAG SOME TIME AGO (RESEARCHING DATE)- TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. NO MORE LIGHT, BUT VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING/LOSING POWER WHILE DRIVING- RARELY, BUT BECAME MORE FREQUENT OVER TIME. INSTRUMENT PANEL/CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS WILL ILLUMINATE- NOW EVERY MINUTE OR SO WHILE DRIVING. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAME PROBLEM- NHTSA ID 10605681. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER LATE MAY. DEALER ON PHONE W/ TOYOTA MULTIPLE TIMES + HAD TECH FROM ANOTHER DEALER COME AND LOOK AT VEHICLE - COULD …
Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10609730 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10374289 · 2010-12-31 (December 31, 2010)
WHILE IN PARKING LOT, PLACED CAR IN REVERSE. THE CAR ACCELERATED ACROSS THE PARKING LOT, JUMPING A CURB AND HITTING A 2 FOOT HIGH POLE IN NEXT PARKING LOT. BRAKING HAD NO EFFECT. ATTEMPT TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL FAILED. STEERING ALSO FAILED. CAR TOWED TO COLLISION CENTER SUBSEQUENTLY TOTALED BY INSURANCE COMPANY. CAR HIT WITH SUCH FORCE, IT WAS WRAPPED AROUND POLE AND RESTING ON TOP OF POLE. WRIST OF DRIVER HURT - HAD TO SEEK ATTENTION FROM EMTS AND GO TO EMERGENCY ROOM. UNDER ORTHOPEDIC SPECIALIST CARE CURRENTLY. PASSENGER IN BACK SEAT, 20 YR OLD…
Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10374289 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10464205 · 2012-07-04 (July 4, 2012)
PARKED TOYOTA AVALON WAS STARTED, SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION OCCURRED. BRAKES INEFFECTIVE SO HIT PARKED CAR IN FRONT EXTREMELY HARD. TRIED TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL BUT IT SLIPPED INTO REVERSE AND HIT CAR PARKED BEHIND. FINALLY GOT INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF ENGINE. VERY, VERY SCARY. NO INJURIES, NO POLICE REPORT, NOTIFIED INSURANCE TO COVER DAMAGES TO CARS. WILL HAVE TOWED TO TOYOTA FOR INSPECTION. IF NOTHING FOUND, I WILL NOT DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN. WITNESS SAID CAR "JUMPED UP AND ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLE". *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 81,340 miles reported. Look up ODI 10464205 at NHTSA ↗